Written Answers Thursday 19 May 2005

Scottish Executive

Children and Young People

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any studies have been made of the effects of exposure to advertising on children; whether any action is planned as a result of such studies, and, if no such studies have been undertaken, whether any are planned.

Euan Robson: The Scottish Executive has not undertaken any studies of the effects of exposure to advertising on children.

Civil Service

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the Secretary of State for Productivity, Energy and Industry seeking the transfer of energy-related civil service jobs from London to Aberdeen.

Mr Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-13284 on 19 January 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Employment

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the shortage of skilled tradesmen.

Mr Jim Wallace: Data from Futureskills Scotland’s Employers Skill Survey 2004 demonstrates that, according to employers, only 2.4% of employee jobs in the skilled tradespeople sector are hard-to-fill. This is down from the previous year’s figure of 3.0%, but higher than the all-sector average of 1.7%. We continue to work with key delivery partners through our Determined to Succeed Strategy, and the Modern Apprenticeship and Skillseekers programmes to address such shortages using local intelligence.

Environment

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on implementing the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy in respect of enhancing protection afforded to ancient woodland.

Lewis Macdonald: Our Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Implementation Plans for 2005 to 2007 were published on 31 March this year. These plans include a range of targets for conserving biodiversity in Scotland’s woodlands.

  Forestry Commission Scotland and the Executive’s Planning Division will shortly undertake a review with key stakeholders, which will aim to minimise losses of woodland biodiversity as a result of changes in land use. Part of the review’s remit will be to examine measures to ensure that ancient and semi-natural woodlands are adequately protected.

Europe

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will appoint a national Lisbon co-ordinator under the revised Lisbon strategy in line with European Commission guidance and, if so, when it will do so and who the co-ordinator will be.

Mr Jim Wallace: In line with European Commission guidelines any national co-ordinator will be appointed at Member State level, which is a matter for the UK Government. Scotland will not formally appoint a national Lisbon co-ordinator.

  We shall shortly consider ministerial responsibility for monitoring any reforms and progress in Scotland. Any implementation will be Executive-wide under policy frameworks outlined in the Framework for Economic Development in Scotland and A Smart Successful Scotland.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the employment levels in the aquaculture sector are currently and have been in each of the last six years.

Mr Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is provided in the following table.

  

 Salmon Production
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004


 Staff Full-time
 1,117
 1,036
 1,141
 1,066
 1,083
 1,066
 N/A**


 Staff Part-time
 192
 268
 256
 191
 223
 151
 N/A**


 Total
 1,309
 1,304
 1,397
 1,257
 1,306
 1,217
 N/A**


 Smolt Production
 


 Staff Full-time
 318
 300
 341
 317
 312
 291
 N/A**


 Staff Part-time
 96
 124
 103
 111
 93
 82
 N/A**


 Total
 414
 424
 444
 428
 405
 373
 N/A**


 Rainbow Trout Production
 


 Staff Full-time
 137
 126
 121
 118
 114
 107
 N/A**


 Staff Part-time
 49
 51
 47
 41
 46
 41
 N/A**


 Total
 186
 177
 168
 159
 160
 148
 N/A**


 Other Species Production (fin-fish)
 


 Staff Full-time
 N/A*
 54
 73
 75
 69
 73
 N/A**


 Staff Part-time
 N/A*
 18
 25
 22
 30
 24
 N/A**


 Total
 N/A*
 72
 98
 97
 99
 97
 N/A**


 Shellfish Production (all species)
 


 Staff Full-time
 116
 118
 138
 137
 128
 146
 149


 Staff Part-time
 127
 114
 135
 146
 134
 144
 170


 Staff Casual
 60
 76
 90
 89
 85
 74
 83


 Total
 303
 308
 363
 372
 347
 364
 402



  Source: Fisheries Research Services Annual Production Survey (1998-2004).

  Notes:

  *Data not available – other species production data not available before 1999.

  **Data not available – 2004 fin-fish production data is still being collected and verified. Annual survey results are published retrospectively.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which countries are considered to be likely to provide the most applicants to the Fresh Talent initiative and which countries it is targeting in relation to the initiative.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme will allow non European economic area students graduating from a Scottish university or college with a HND, degree, Masters or PhD to stay on and work for up to two years without requiring a work permit. While we are not able to predict the number of applicants under the scheme we are aware that in 2003-04 Scotland received over 28,000 international students from over 200 countries.

Fuel Costs

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to assess the impact on rural areas and industries such as agriculture and fisheries of rising road fuel prices.

Ross Finnie: No detailed impact analysis of a rise in fuel prices has been carried out for specific industries or areas of Scotland. With regard to the agricultural and fisheries industries, both sectors benefit from reduced duty applied to the use of red diesel. This is worth over 40 pence per litre compared to fuel usage by most sectors of industry.

G8 Summit

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated costs are to be incurred by (a) Lothian and Borders Police, (b) Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade, (c) the Scottish Ambulance Service, (d) NHS Lothian and (e) the City of Edinburgh Council as a result of the G8 summit.

Mr Tom McCabe: It will not be possible to give an accurate figure for G8-related expenditure until after the summit.

Health

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to tackle health care-associated infections in the NHS.

Mr Andy Kerr: We recently announced a new campaign to protect patients from hospital infections and ensuring clean wards. This will be a thorough, relentless and systematic campaign, which is one of the most comprehensive in Europe, and is backed by £15 million investment over three years.

  The key elements include sisters and charge nurses being accountable for ward cleanliness and a programme to ensure that alcohol hand rubs are available near every frontline bed by the beginning of April 2005. I have received confirmation from chief executives that the policy to provide alcohol hand rubs has been fully implemented. There is also a reinforcement of management accountabilities and responsibility, and further developments in education and training for cleaning, nursing and medical staff.

  Cleanliness is everyone’s responsibility. Staff and visitors alike can do a lot to help keep patients safe from infection.

Health

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on increasing the awareness of the public to the dangers of too much exposure to the sun and of unregulated use of sunbeds.

Rhona Brankin: A number of agencies in the UK run awareness-raising campaigns aimed at highlighting the health risks from exposure to ultraviolet radiation. These include the SunSmart campaign, funded by the four UK Health Departments and co-ordinated by Cancer Research UK, "Sunsense" which is run by the Health Protection Agency and includes an interactive website, NHS Health Scotland’s "Sun safe protection tips" and NHS Fife and NHS Tayside’s "Keep Yer Shirt On" Project

  In relation to sunbeds, the Health and Safety Executive has produced advice leaflets on "controlling the health risks from the use of ultraviolet tanning equipment" aimed at both operators and users.

Health

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance was issued to NHS boards to safeguard their staff who were displaced by single system working.

Rhona Brankin: NHS Scotland employers are required to follow the Organisational Change Policy applied to change as a consequence of the move to single system working. Under this policy employers should give priority to displaced staff.

Health

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the new standards for patients waiting for diagnostic tests and procedures will be published.

Rhona Brankin: New waiting times standards for key diagnostic tests, which will have the effect of reducing the longest waits substantially and speeding the patient’s pathway through the NHS, will be announced shortly.

Health

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to establish a register of lupus sufferers.

Rhona Brankin: Although the Executive has no plans to establish a register of lupus sufferers the new General Medical Services (GMS) contract includes management of chronic conditions and the "Quality and Outcomes Framework" recognises GP’s commitment to personal care, continuity of care and good chronic disease management. In addition Community Health Partnerships will ensure more integrated, community based health care and should enhance the outcomes for all chronic conditions, including Lupus.

Health

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what role the NHS is playing in the delivery of the Executive’s targets on cycling.

Rhona Brankin: All NHS boards are expected to follow the NHS environmental management policy which includes a section on transport and promotes walking and cycling and the adoption of green travel plans.

Housing

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to increase the availability of affordable housing.

Johann Lamont: The full extent of our ambitious programme to increase the availability of affordable housing is set out in our housing policy statement. We are taking action on land release, shared-equity schemes and planning advice and our £1.2 billion investment over three years will raise the number of affordable homes funded over that period to 21,500.

Law

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any impediments exist in Scots law to the provision of Islamic mortgages and, if so, what action it will take to remove these.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive is not aware of any impediment in Scots law which prevents the provision of Islamic mortgages.

Mental Health

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil cases have been brought against psychiatric services in the NHS in each of the last five years for (a) wrongful detention, (b) misdiagnoses and (c) wrong treatment.

Rhona Brankin: The information requested is not held centrally.

National Parks

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation has been undertaken with the local community prior to the publication of the draft Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Plan.

Lewis Macdonald: The National Park Authority used a range of methods to obtain the views of local communities in the lead up to the publication of the draft National Park Plan, which I was delighted to support at Loch Katrine earlier this week. The National Park Community Futures Programme encouraged communities to feed in their views, and specialist forums were established to involve local land owners, businesses and other organisations. Consultation on the draft plan will be taken forward over the summer months.

Police

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is issued to police forces regarding the recruitment of police officers from minority backgrounds.

Cathy Jamieson: The recruitment and appointment of police officers is the responsibility of chief constables. The Scottish police service is committed to encouraging people from as wide a range of backgrounds as possible to join the service. In April 2004, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) launched a Diversity Strategy for the Police Service in Scotland. This strategy provides a framework for developing and sustaining a diverse workforce within an environment which is both supportive and inclusive.

Police

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is issued to police forces regarding the recruitment of female police officers.

Cathy Jamieson: Responsibility for the recruitment and appointment of police officers rests with chief constables. In April last year, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) launched a Diversity Strategy for the Police Service in Scotland. This strategy provides a framework for developing and sustaining a diverse workforce within an environment which is both supportive and inclusive.

Police

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16162 by Cathy Jamieson on 10 May 2005, what stages of the new project to replace the criminal history system database will be led by project managers hired from outwith the Scottish Police Information Strategy.

Cathy Jamieson: Additional input will be secured following a tendering exercise involving companies appointed to the Framework for IT Services Scotland contracts. The additional input will focus on performance testing, the development of a revised project initiation document and the delivery of the replacement criminal history system.

Police

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16163 by Cathy Jamieson on 10 May 2005, what the cost will be of the preparations undertaken for a procurement exercise to replace the criminal history system database.

Cathy Jamieson: The preparations for procurement have been carried out so far by Scottish Executive officials as part of their day-to-day work.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the staff turnover rate has been in each (a) prison and (b) young offenders institution in each of the last three years.

Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-15571 on 14 April 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) apparent and (b) attempted suicides there have been in each (i) prison and (ii) young offenders institution in each of the last three years.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of self harm other than suicide there have been in each (a) prison and (b) young offenders institution in each of the last three years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-14693 on 9 March 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16157 by Cathy Jamieson on 12 May 2005, whether it will provide a list of (a) invitees, (b) attendees, (c) MSPs in attendance and (d) MSPs who were invited to each media conference.

Cathy Jamieson: Scottish Executive Press Office sends on behalf of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP) a general invitation to national and local media outlets to attend HMCIP media conferences. A record of who attends from the media on each occasion is not routinely held by the press office or HMCIP. No MSP’s were in attendance and no MSP’s were invited to each media conference referred to.

Rail Services

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it has made in the franchise to First ScotRail for expansion of the West Highland Line service by (a) more train journeys and (b) securing extra rolling stock and whether its transport policy includes any commitment that the West Highland Line should be expanded by more train services, extra sleeping cars or any other means.

Nicol Stephen: The franchise allows the Executive to require additional services to be provided. Any proposal to run additional services would be considered alongside the existing service level commitment and needs across the rail network. Expansion of the West Highland Line service would be possible if there was a robust business case.

Rail Services

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any arrangement to prevent the destruction of redundant sleeping cars stored by Porterbrook Leasing to enable these cars to be used as extra sleeping cars for the West Highland Line and, if not, how much it will cost to purchase new sleeping cars.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive has no plans to require First ScotRail to lease additional sleeping cars as there is already sufficient capacity within the fleet. Purchase of new sleeping cars would be subject to a procurement process before reliable estimates of the costs involved could be ascertained.

Rail Services

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out a feasibility study into the (a) cost per unit of refurbishing the redundant sleeping cars stored by Porterbrook Leasing for use on the West Highland Line or other sleeper service, comparing that to the cost of purchasing new stock, and (b) economic costs and benefits of laying on extra sleeping cars for existing rail sleeper services and whether such a study would consider the potential benefit to the tourist industry of such services and the adequacy of the existing marketing of the service.

Nicol Stephen: The franchise agreement allows the Executive to receive a range of information about sleeper services on a regular basis, on marketing, demand, costs and revenues. In addition, service development is considered on an on-going basis by First ScotRail and by the Executive as part of franchise monitoring.

  First ScotRail estimates that the costs of refurbishing redundant sleeping cars would be significantly less than purchasing new rolling stock. They also advise that currently there is no need for additional sleeping cars as there is sufficient capacity within the existing fleet, which is itself being upgraded through a £1 million investment as part of the franchise.

  Services to support the tourism industry are important. First ScotRail is already committed to providing a three car sleeper service on the Fort William route during the summer at weekends. This provides 50% greater capacity than the base for the rest of the year and reflects demand at peak times.

  The Executive has no plans to carry out a feasibility study as outlined in the question.

Rail Services

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that the redundant sleeping cars stored by Porterbrook Leasing are not scrapped and can be used on the West Highland Line if the service is developed.

Nicol Stephen: The decision on storage and future leasing arrangements is for First ScotRail and Porterbrook to make within the terms of the franchise requirement. The Executive is satisfied, having consulted with First ScotRail, that sufficient capacity exists within the fleet currently under lease to First ScotRail to allow for development of the West Highland Line Service in line with anticipated demand.

Sustainable Development

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16014 by Lewis Macdonald on 26 April 2005, when it will publish its new sustainable development strategy and what (a) non-government organisations, (b) trade unions and (c) other members of civic Scotland have been asked to contribute to the development of the strategy.

Ross Finnie: We shall publish our Scottish strategy this autumn.

  We are keen that it should reflect the concerns of people, communities and organisations in Scotland and the contributions which they can make towards a more sustainable future. To that end, I have written to the non-government organisations and other bodies listed below asking for their assistance in developing the strategy, and my officials are working with them and others, including the Scottish Trades Union Congress, to develop the content of the strategy.

  AGENDA

  Business Council for Sustainable Development

  BTCV Scotland

  CBI Scotland

  Communities Scotland

  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise

  Education 21

  Federation of Small Businesses Scotland

  Friends of the Earth Scotland

  Future Scotland

  Forward Scotland

  Network of International Development Organisations in Scotland (NIDOS)

  REMADE Scotland

  RSPB Scotland

  Scottish Business in the Community

  Scottish Civic Forum

  Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations

  Scottish Enterprise

  Scottish Environment LINK

  Scottish Environment Protection Agency

  Scottish National Heritage

  Scottish Retail Consortium

  Scottish Sustainable Development Commissioners

  Scottish Sustainable Development Forum

  Scottish Waste Awareness Group

  Sustainable Development Commission

  Sustainable Scotland Network

  Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP)

  WWF Scotland

  We are also seeking to encourage a more general debate on the implications of sustainable development, both to contribute to the strategy and to develop the awareness and engagement needed for its implementation. We are doing that in a number of ways, including through the Scottish Executive website (http://www.sustainable.scotland.gov.uk), an open online discussion area hosted by the Scottish Sustainable Development Forum (http://www.ssdforum.org.uk) and a series of public meetings run by the forum in more remote rural locations across Scotland to enable us to gather views on the issues from the particular perspective of these communities.

Transport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it will seek, in connection with the proposed rail link from Glasgow Airport to Glasgow city centre, for park-and-ride schemes to encourage users of the M8 to leave their cars at the airport connection and take the rail link into the city centre and, if no such park-and-ride scheme forms part of the proposal submitted by Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT), whether it will invite SPT to add such a provision.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive supports the current design of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link as proposed by Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT). If the SPT or a local authority wished to pursue a proposal for a park-and-ride facility such a project would be assessed by the Executive in the normal way.

Transport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the creation of a rail link between Glasgow airport and Glasgow city centre would have on reducing traffic from the M8 to the city centre (a) without and (b) with a park-and-ride facility at the airport connection.

Nicol Stephen: Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT), the promoter of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, are in the final stages of analysing the impact that their proposals will have in reducing congestion on the M8. This information will be available towards the end of May, but will not include a comparison in respect of with/without park-and-ride, as this does not form part of their scheme proposal.